Adonis Stevenson vs. Dmitry Sukhotsky: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (24-1, 20 KO) is fighting the wrong Russian opponent on Saturday. Most in the boxing community would prefer to see Superman in the ring with WBA, WBO and IBF champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev, but that's not what's on tap.
On Friday, Stevenson will defend his WBC title against 33-year-old Dmitry Sukhotsky (22-2, 16 KO) of Pavlovsk, Russia, at Colisee de Quebec in Canada.
The bout will be the third defense of the title Stevenson took from Chad Dawson in June 2013. Sukhotsky's resume won't floor anyone, but somehow this will be his second shot at a world title. He lost a unanimous decision to Juergen Braehmer in 2009.
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In the main event of a lackluster Showtime card, Sukhotsky will try to be competitive in what looks like a lopsided matchup on paper in favor of the champion.
Here's how you can watch.
When: Friday, Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Colisee de Quebec in Canada
TV: Showtime
Live Stream: Box Nation (subscription required and region restricted)
Empty Feeling
Aside from the payday, the 37-year-old Stevenson has little to nothing to gain from his fight with Sukhotsky. Even a first-round KO win would only cause the boxing community to collectively say: "That's what he was supposed to do."
If this fight was against Kovalev to unify titles at 175 pounds, or even fellow Canadian Jean Pascal, there would be no complaints about Stevenson's opponent. Stevenson and Kovalev were seemingly on a collision course as both fighters were signed with HBO.
However, just before a deal could be struck to put the two light heavyweight champions in the ring, Stevenson left HBO and signed with Showtime. In the current climate of the boxing world, that looks a lot like ducking and running.
When Stevenson discusses Kovalev, he still speaks as if he believes he is the best light heavyweight in the world. Per Lem Satterfield of The Ring Magazine, Stevenson said: “Nothing is easy, but I know that I’m the only guy that can beat Sergey Kovalev. I will fight him in 2015.”
If the boxing world gets three-quarters of the great matchups we've been promised, 2015 is going to be one heck of a year.
There's no doubting Stevenson's ability to put on electrifying performances. In fact, it's been a while since Stevenson wasn't in an entertaining fight. Looking back at his most recent fights, 14 of his last 15 bouts have ended by TKO/KO or with an opponent retiring between rounds.
Stevenson was knocked out by Darnell Boone—the same man who once floored Andre Ward—back in 2010. Superman would avenge that loss with his own sixth-round KO win in March 2013. Even the one fight during this span that did go to judges was filled with excitement.
Stevenson gutted out an unanimous decision over Andrzej Fonfara in May. Fonfara knocked Stevenson down in the ninth round, but the champion responded with heart to close out the bout impressively.
Based on Stevenson's attacking style and Sukhotsky's willingness to stand and trade, there shouldn't be a shortage of action.
However, this one might not last long.
Is Second Time the Charm?
When you look at Sukhotsky in the ring, nothing specifically jumps out at you. He is a grinder who is tough and aggressive, but he looks to have below-average hand speed and footwork with only decent power.
Based on that brief scouting report and a less-than-impressive resume, it's a wonder he's been able to secure a second shot at the title. The bout with Braehmer wasn't exactly a close fight. According to BoxRec, Sukhotsky trailed by four points on two judges' scorecards and eight on another.
Sukhotsky also lost a lopsided decision to journeyman Cornelius White in July 2012.
In his most recent bout, Sukhotsky won a narrow decision over Joey Vegas. Boxing can be a crazy and unpredictable sport, but there's nothing that leads me to believe that Sukhotsky has much of a chance against Stevenson.
Prediction
With a speed, dexterity, skill and power advantage, Stevenson is going to knock Sukhotsky out as early as he wants to. The Russian has never been stopped before, but he's also not faced a puncher on Stevenson's level.
According to Michael Woods of The Sweet Science, Stevenson says he'll be looking to produce a performance that his former trainer, the late Emanuel Steward, would have been proud of.
I'm betting he comes through with a stoppage of Sukhotsky in the fifth round.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.
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